Tie-plate for automobile bumpers



April 7, 1925.

W. F. MARTIN TIE PLATE FOR AUTOMOBILE BUMPERS Filed March 20, 1924 Patented Apr. 7, 1925 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

wiLLIAM F. MARTIN, OFBALDWINSVILLE, new Yon-K, ASS-IGNOR T0 PENN SIfRIbIG worms INC., on BALDWINSVILLE, new YORK, A con-reelection OF NEWIYORK.

TIE PLATE FOB- AUTOMOBILE BUMPERS.

Application filed March 20, 1924. Serial- No. 700,617.

To all w/zmn it may concern:

' Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Baldwinsville, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tie-Plates for Automobile Bumpers, of which the following, taken in connect-ion with the accompanying draw-"- ings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a tie plate for plural bar bumpers and more particularly, for securing a pair of spaced parallel bars to the return ends of an intermediate supporting bar whereby the spaced bars will be held in fixed relation to each other and to the intermediate bar.

The main object is to provide a sectional tie plate which will be at once ornamental as well as useful, and in which the sections are interlocked with each other, and with the bumper bars in such manner as to facilitate and expedite the assembling of those parts, and firmly holding them in their adjusted positions against relative vertical or longitudinal movement.

In bumpers of this character, it is desirable to bring the parallel bars in reasonably close, but spaced relation to the inter mediate bar, and one of the specific objects of this tie plate is to interpose portions thereof, between the contiguous edges of the bars with a wedging effect when the sections are tightened so as to hold the adjacent portions of the bars against vibratory contact one against the other, and thereby to avoid the rattling noise common to many bumpers of the plural bar class.

Another objectis to provide means for retaining the outer section upon the parallel bars even though the clamping bolt may be loosened.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the device will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a face view of a plural bar bumper and a pair of my improved tie plates in operative position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 22, Figure 1. I

Figure 3 is an enlarged inner face view of one of the tie plates'and adjacent portions of the bars connected thereby;

Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views of the outer and mner sections respectively, of

one of the tie plates. I

.As' illustrated, the tie plate is used incon nection with a pair of spaced parallel bars A and an intermediate supporting bar B, the ends of-the bars A.bein g secured in spaced relation by bolts 'a and spacing sleeves a. I

The intermediate. bar B- may be secured by any suitable fastening means to the chassis frame of the machine and is preferably disposed in a plane between and in spaced relation to the barsA' and has its ends returned toward each other in the same vertical plane as the bars /A-, and. in spaced relation thereto so that the return bends -Z) are at substantially equal distances from the adjacent spacing sleeves -a B- terminate in longitudinally spaced relation equal distances from the ends of the bars A, and therefore, some distance f from the centers of those bars'so that when connected to the bars A-, they afford a certain amount of resiliency which together with that of the bars A,- is found to be suflicient to meet the shock requirements of devices of-this character with the added advantage of quick recovery withoutdeformation, it being understood that the bars A and B- are made of highly tempered spring steel.

The two tie plates shown in Figure 1 are identical and interchangeable and therefore,

faces of the bars -A' and B while the inner section 2 extends across the inner faces of the same bars but is somewhat shorter than the section--l. I

The outer section 1 is gradually enlarged from the ends toward the center or reversely tapered from its center toward its ends, which latter are extended beyond the corresponding edges of the lower and upper 75 The return ends of the intermediate bar it bars ',A and are provided with hook shaped extremities embracing said edges to hold the section l against inward or from the outward displacement, while permitting its adjustment along the bars A to and positionrequired for fastening it in place. I r In other words, the lowerand upper ends of each plate -1- are provided with inwardly. projecting horizontal portions l engaging the" adjacent. edges of the bars A and are also provided with tongues or flanges 1", extending toward each other for engaging the inner faces of said bars at the outer sides of their longitudinal centers, the ends of the flanges 1' being preferably rounded for the purpose of entering similarly formed recesses 2-" in the'adjac'ent ends of'the inner section 2 and thereby locking the two sections together. against relative'lateral movement when the tie plate is adjusted for use;

Theinnei' faces of the marginal edges of the plate 1 are substantially fiat for the purpose of engaging theouter faces of the bars A' and -B and, in cooperation with the flanges 1, holding the plate against forward and rearward vibratory "movement relatively to the bumper bars.

Theinner section 2 is provided with vertically spaced transverse ribs 4registering with and adapted to enter the spaces between the intermediate'bar B 1 andlower and upper bars A, said ribs adapted to enter apertures 6 in the ad-- jacent portions of' the bars -A for addi tionallyholding said bars against relative.

bratorv movement when the tie having their lower and upper faces beveled outwardly so as to wedgefagainst the adjacent edges of the bars -A-+ and B to firmiy hold said bars against relative viplate is properly tightened for use.

The inner plate 2 is also provided near its lower and upper ends with outwardly projecting studs or pins j vibratory or longitudinal movement and tions upon the bars, the outer end of the l bolts being rounded to form what may be termed an ornamental rosette -3, whichtogether with the contour of the section --l presents a pleasing and ornamental appearance as set forth in my design application, Serial Number 9008, filed March 1924, (Case B). i

Owing to the hook-shaped extremities the sections l+ they are preferably asbars are seeured by the bolts a and spacving sleeves r(z after which the end bolts -a andspacing sleeves a, may be tightened thereby preventing accidental dis:- placement of the sections,v1--- from the 5 65. sembled upon the bars -A before said i bars A even though they may become loosened from the intermediate bar hat I claim is: 1. An automobile lower, upper and intermediate bars; 'i n spaced relation, and a tie plate section 'havbumper compr sing ing beveled faces engaging between. and

againstthe adjacent edgesof'said barsi An automobile bumper lower, upper comprising and intermediate bars n v spaced relation, and a tie plate section hav ing beveled faces engaging", between and against the adj a'ent edges of said bars,-and

also having pins 'engaging in apertures in the lower and upperbars.

In witness whereof I have hereunto; set;

my hand this 18th day of March, 1924., I

\Vitnesses H. E. CHASE, RITA CAMPoLIE'ro.

- WILLIAM F.. MA IN.- 

